Elderly couple killed in vicious stabbing

A RETIRED research chemist and his wife have died in a vicious stabbing attack at their home in Cheshire, murder squad detectives investigating the killings said yesterday.

The bodies of Donald Leslie Ward, 67, and his wife Auriel, 72, were found in their bed by a neighbour, when family members became concerned. Post mortem examinations revealed that the pensioners had been repeatedly stabbed.

The couple, who had not been seen since last Monday, were found at 5pm on Friday,having failed to keep an appointment the next morning, police said. There were no signs of a break-in at their three-bedroom home in Lacey Grove, which is a quiet cul-de-sac, but the back door was not secure.

DCI John Davis, the senior investigating officer, said it was too soon to establish whether anything was missing from the home where Mr and Mrs Ward had lived for about 30 years.

The couple, described as happily retired and well known in the area, had four children, all believed to be in their thirties and living outside Cheshire.

Anyone with information can contact Macclesfield Police Station on 01244 613464.